Port Pirie soil shows high lead levels

Some soil samples taken in Port Pirie have returned lead levels requiring further investigation, SA Health says.

A recent survey took samples from 353 public sites across the town, which is home to the Nyrstar smelting operations.

It found lead levels at 72 sites were above the 600 parts per million level which triggers further checks under national health guidelines.

The highest level of 7546 parts per million came from a public park close to the Nyrstar plant.

South Australia's director of public health Kevin Buckett said the survey was not designed to estimate lead exposure or health risks at particular sites, but to better understand the level of contamination already in the soil.

"The soil report has confirmed what we already know, which is that after decades of smelting, the lead contamination in Port Pirie is widespread," Dr Buckett said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the report did not indicate any new risk to the local community, but reiterated the importance of lead minimisation activities.

Many of the sites above the investigation levels were covered by grass, mulch or vegetation, minimising human exposure.

Those which were accessible to the public would require further investigation.

Dr Buckett said SA Health would provide assistance to the local council to determine if existing soil barriers were effective and if the contaminated soil or dust was likely to blow into nearby homes.